CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today that it is teaming with both Dolby Laboratories, Inc. and Barco to mix The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the highly anticipated next chapter in the story of Peter Parker, in both the Auro 11.1 system and the Dolby Atmos cinema sound system, to deliver a more natural and realistic soundtrack that moves sound around and above audiences. These innovative technologies open new possibilities to enhance storytelling through sound, giving the moviegoer a more immersive, exciting and compelling experience. The picture will be released in theaters internationally beginning April 16, 2014, and domestically on May 2, 2014.

The studio has also converted its landmark William Holden Theater to support both technologies for mixing. The studio teamed with both Dolby and Barco to install a 56-speaker system and related equipment that is capable of mixing and playing both formats. The resulting facility, which combines state-of-the-art audio technologies with the latest projection technology, including 4K digital projection and 3D capabilities, reinforces Sony Pictures Studios as one of the industry's landmark post-production destinations.

Commenting on the announcement, Rory Bruer, president of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures, said: "We're thrilled to be working with Barco and Dolby, both to convert the William Holden Theater and to incorporate these innovative technologies into The Amazing Spider-Man 2. We are always looking for ways to offer greater definition and further enhance the moviegoing experience. These technologies are one more way that we offer consumers a richer and unique theatrical experience."

Paul Massey and David Giammarco will be creating both the Dolby Atmos and Auro 11.1 mixes. Commenting on the announcement, they said:"We are thrilled to have these groundbreaking formats available for audiences viewing The AmazingSpider-Man 2. Both Atmos and Auro will allow us the creative freedom to fully immerse the audience with '3D' sound as Marc Webb's vision of Spider-Man's world unfolds. Every member of the audience will experience what it's like to be Spider-Man swinging from building to building above a busy New York street!"

Auro 11.1 by Barco, which was developed by Auro Technologies, is designed along three layers of sound (traditional surround sound, with height, and overhead layers). Thanks to this layered approach, the technology not only enables sound mixers to move objects around in space, it also allows them to reproduce the immersive aspects of a film soundtrack in a more natural way.

"Barco has channeled our industry-leading cinema technologies into an immersive audio solution that provides uniquely significant benefits to studios and exhibitors around the world," comments Brian Claypool, Senior Director of Strategic Business Development for Barco Entertainment. "We are deeply honored to have this opportunity to work with Sony Pictures and by empowering film makers with the perfect rendering environment that integrates seamlessly with their existing workflows, we can help them easily and cost-effectively deliver the most realistic, natural and comfortable immersive listening experience to bring their movies to life."

Dolby Atmos unleashes the potential of sound in storytelling by giving filmmakers the creative freedom to easily place or move sounds anywhere in the movie theatre, even overhead, with object-based audio to create a lifelike, virtual reality of sound.

"Dolby Atmos, the world's first and only object-based cinema sound platform available today, marked a giant step forward in the evolution of movie storytelling. We are proud to have pioneered an approach to sound that delivers a sense of being in the moment alongside your favorite characters," said Doug Darrow, Senior Vice President, Cinema, Dolby Laboratories. "We have successfully deployed Dolby Atmos in hundreds of cinemas around the globe, and dozens of the world's leading filmmakers embrace our new approach to sound."

About "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

It's great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there's no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp. Directed by Marc Webb. Produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. Screen Story and Screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner. Based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

About Sony Pictures:Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.

About BarcoBarco Digital Cinema is internationally recognized as a global leader in delivering cutting-edge technologies that enable the "Cinema of the Future." This includes a rich palette of digital cinema solutions: the brightest, award-winning projectors, immersive cinema sound, digital signage, managed services, and the industry's best training and certification program. Barco also designs and develops visualization solutions for a variety of professional markets including healthcare, entertainment, industrial and government, simulation and virtual reality, and defense and aerospace. As a global enterprise, Barco maintains all corporate functions within three distinct regions: Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barcois active in more than 90 countries with about 3,900 employees worldwide. Barco posted sales of 1.156 billion euro in 2012. For more information, visit www.barco.com.

About Auro TechnologiesAuro Technologies (www.auro-3d.com; www.auro-technologies.com) is a spin-off of the Galaxy Studios Group and owner of the Auro-3D Technology Suite. The Auro-3D system has been designed by Wilfried Van Baelen, founder of Galaxy Studios, which is renowned worldwide for its state-of-the-art leadership in audio innovation for music and film sound. The Auro-3D suite offers ground-breaking, easy-to-use and unprecedented levels of sound reproduction capabilities to the professional, automotive, broadcast and consumer electronics (such as gaming, smart phones, multimedia PC, notebooks, tablets, audio players, digital TV, media libraries and packaged media) markets.

About Dolby AtmosDolby Laboratories is equipping the cinema world with its new Dolby Atmos technology, the only object-based cinema sound platform available today. Dolby Atmos unleashes the potential of sound in storytelling by providing sound experts the creative freedom to easily place or move specific sounds anywhere in the movie theatre, not just where there happen to be speakers. The result is what moviegoers have described as the most engaging and lifelike cinema sound experience ever.

Introduced in April 2012, Dolby Atmos has been embraced by all the major Hollywood studios, six Academy Award winning directors, and 12 Academy Award winning sound mixers, among others. More than 450 Dolby Atmos screens have been installed or committed to in 40 countries with more than 150 exhibitors. More than 100 films from 10 different countriesrepresenting a broad range of genres from action thrillers and animated features to comedy and horrorhave been or are scheduled to be released with Dolby Atmos sound since the first film debuted in June 2012.

Dolby Atmos has received technical achievement awards from both the Hollywood Post Alliance and the Cinema Audio Society. As the inventors of the only object-based audio format used in the cinema today, Dolby is working closely with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers in driving adoption of standards for object-based audio.

About Dolby LaboratoriesDolby Laboratories creates audio, video, and voice technologies that transform entertainment and communications in mobile devices, at the cinema, at home, and at work. For nearly 50 years, sight and sound experiences have become more vibrant, clear, and meaningful in Dolby. For more information, please visit dolby.com.